Update: The aircraft appears to have now landed in Invercargill

Invercargill Airport is a sea of lights after a Virgin plane had to make an emergency landing this evening. Photo: Aaron Ives

A plane leaving Queenstown Airport appears to be experiencing engine trouble during take off.

Members of the public reported seeing flames coming from one of the engines and heard loud bangs, as the Virgin VA148 Melbourne took off over the Shotover Delta from the airport at about 6pm.

The Flight Radar sky map shows the plane circling around to Kingston and it appears to be heading towards Invercargill, where there is a longer runway. 

It would likely dump fuel before attempting a landing. Stuff is reporting there are 73 people aboard the 737 plane.

Shotover Country resident Shayne Galloway, in a social media post, said: "Sounded like it was coming apart over our house. One engine was throwing flames and sputtering out."

Airport spokesperson Sara Irvine confirmed: "The information we can share at this stage is that Virgin Australia flight VA 148 departed Queenstown Airport at 5.59pm, bound for Melbourne. It experienced an issue just after take-off and has been diverted to Invercargill Airport.

"We will share another update when we have more information."

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said 2 fire trucks from the Invercargill station along with one from Kingswell been sent to the airport. A command vehicle and water tanker had also been deployed to the airport.

The airport fire truck was also called out.